Turbine-generator and condenser base for shipboard installation

ABSTRACT

BINE-GENERATOR SET CAN BE PERFORMED WITH THE LATTER RESTING ON ITS INTENDED FOUNDATION, SUCH AS THE HULL OF A SHIP.   A DESIGN OF AN ATTACHMENT OF A CONDENSER TO THE BASE STRUCTURE OF A TURBINE-GENERATOR SET WHEREBY THE CONDENSER PROVIDES TORSIONAL RIGIDITY TO THE BASE, THE DESIGN BEING SUCH THAT NO ACCURATE MACHINING OR ACCURATE FITTING OF THE ATTACHMENT SURFACES IS REQUIRED AND SUCH THAT THE ASSEMBLY OF THE CONDENSER TO A COMPLETELY ASSEMBLED TUR-

March 6, 1973 H. N. HOFFMAN 3,719,045

TURBINEGENER"ATOR AND CONDENSER BASE FOR SHIPBOARD INSTALLATION Filed Karen 26, 1971 FIG.|

INVENTOR HERBERT N. HOFFMAN,

HIS ATTORNEY.

"United States Patent 3,719,045 TURBINE-GENERATOR AND CONDENSER BASE FOR SHIPBOARD INSTALLATION Herbert N. Hoffman, Lunenburg, Mass, assignor to General Electric Company Filed Mar. 26, 1971, Ser. No. 128,287 Int. Cl. F011: 9/00 US. CI. 60-95 A 4 Claims ABSTRACT on THE DISCLOSURE A design of an attachment of a condenser to the base structure of a turbine-generator set whereby the condenser provides torsional rigidity to the base, the design being such that no accurate machining or accurate fitting of the attachment surfaces is required and such that the assembly of the condenser to a completely assembled turbine-generator set can be performed with the latter resting on its intended foundation, such as the hull of a ship.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to lightweight turbinegenerator and condenser supports intended for field assembly in congested locations such as shipboard installations. More particularly the invention relates to an improved two-piece condenser base design, wherein the condenser structure adds torsional rigidity to the base frame and adapted for final connection between the two elements after the parts are in their approximate final positions.

There is described in US. Pat. 2,531,178 issued to F. H. Van Nest, on Nov. 21, 1950, a frame structure for turbine-generator sets, in which a rectangular base framework is supported on three points from the ships framework and which has a condenser integrated with the base framework in order to lend the torsional rigidity of the condenser to the base, this being known as a condenser base design. In the Van Nest patent, the condenser is hung from two transverse plate members providing flexibility for relative thermal expansion along a longitudinal axis while serving to resist torsional movements of the base.

While the Van Nest patent is very useful for providing compact and lightweight bases for turbine-generator sets, particularly for shipboard installation, the necessity for alignment of all the parts requires that the condenser be preassembled with the turbine-generator already on its base and the parts carefully machined and hand-fitted. Designs for condenser base turbine-generator sets are known in which the condenser supporting structure is provided with machined connections intended for bolting to the turbine-generator base framework. Preassembly of the parts is necessary to insure alignment when the members are later reassembled on the relatively inaccessible supporting members within a ships hull.

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide an improved two-piece condenser base turbinegenerator set arranged for easy assembly at the final location.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement for connecting together a condenser and a turbine-generator base structure without pre-assembly of the parts or necessitating machined surfaces.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improvement over U.S. Pat. 2,531,178 to Van Nest providing a two piece arrangement for connection of the con denser after the turbine-generator set is in position in a ships hull.

Drawing The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of practice, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a horizontal elevation drawing of the condenser-base turbine-generator with portions broken away to show the essential means of support and manner of connection between the condenser and the base,

FIG. 2 is a partial end view showing the condenserbase connections from the generator end,

FIG. 3 is a partial end view from the opposite direction or turbine end, and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail showing a typical condenser-base joint.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly stated, the invention provides for transverse plate supports disposed in overlapped relationship with plate cross members in the base and having clearances around bolted connections to provide for alignment. Subsequent to alignment, side filler plates are added and all joints are rigidly welded in place to obtain the desired integrated structure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawing, a turbinegenerator set, including a generator 1, reduction gear 2, turbine 3, and control mechanism 4 are mounted on a rectangular fabricated base structure shown generally as 5. The base 5 is made up of two longitudinal side members 6 which are flanged and relatively deep in vertical dimension in order to support the weight of the components 1-4 located on the frame. A number of transverse plates such as 7-12 extend between the side members 6, the location and placement of the plates being dependent upon the particular design. Also extending between side members 6 on the turbine end of frame 5 is a horizontal cross member 13. A mounting pad 14 comprised of a heavy plate section near the middle of cross member 13 rests on a supporting element such as an I- beam member 15 forming part of a ships structure. A similar I-beam support 16 on the other end of the turbine-generator base serves to support mounting pads 17, one on each of the longitudinal side members 6. Thus the frame 5 is mounted on three supports of small area in a known manner so that the distortional forces that are transmitted to frame 5 by the deflection and twisting of I-beam 15 and 16 are minimal.

A condenser 18 is mounted directly below frame 5 and hangs from two transverse vertical plates 19, 20 on the turbine and generator ends respectively. A turbine exhaust pipe 21 and a condenser inlet 22 are joined together at a flange 23 in a manner known in the art.

Referring together to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the supporting plate has a cutout portion 20a in the center to provide flexibility in the two upwardly extending fingers 20b arranged in overlapping relationship with cross plate 9 of the frame so that they can be pulled into contact with plate 9 when condenser is in proper alignment with the base. Bolted connections 25 with ample clearances for alignment provide a means for pulling these overlapping members into contact with plate 9.

Affixed to the side edges of plate 20 are longitudinal stiflener plate members 26 which are welded to the condenser structure along a bottom seam and extend toward the frame at the top, but do not reach all the way to the frame. Field mounted filler plates 27 which are afiixed at final assembly in a manner to be described, bridge the space between the upper termination of stiffener plates 26 and the side members 6.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3 of tthe drawing, the plate 19 is provided with a cutout 19a to provide clearance for support pad 14 and to insure flexibility of the plate in a longitudinal direction. Upwardly extending end terminations 19b are arranged in overlapping relationship with transverse plate 12 and bolted connections 25 are provided as before with clearances for alignment. In order to allow the extensions 19b to overlap plate 12, slits or spaces 30 are provided between horizontal plate 13 and transverse plate 12.

FIG. 4 shows a detail of a typical bolted connections 25. The detail is taken from the connection of the overlapped plates 19 and plate 12 on the turbine end, but the same general details regarding clearances and attachment of the plates after alignment is typical of the bolted connections at the generator end between overlapped plates 20 and 9. In each of the bolted connections 25, a tapped block 31 is welded to the transverse frame cross plate such as 12 and provided with a bolt 32 and washer 33. The extending plate portions from the condenser, extensions 19b in this case, are provided with extra large clearance holes 34 so that the overlapping plate members can slide a subtantial amount relative to one another during the aligning process. Welded connections are made along the overlapped joints subsequent to alignment as indicated.

OPERATION Prior to assembly, the condenser 18 with the attached plates 19, 20 is lowered into the ships hull between I-beams 15, 16 and temporarily supported. Next the turbine-generator base 5 with the pre-aligned turbine-generator components 1-4, is lowered into place on the three support pads comprising the centerline pad 14 and the two side pads 17.

After making necessary tests to insure later proper alignment of the turbine-generator components on the frame, the condenser 18 is raised into place and the bolted connections 25 loosely made. Thereafter, the condenser 18 may be shifted and adjusted up or down to properly align the turbine and condenser steam connections at flange 23 and to distribute the weight. Since all adjustments are in a vertical plane, with the exception of small longitudinal adjustments which can be afforded by flexibility of plates 19, 20, it is very easy to properly align the elements.

As soon as the two-piece assembly is properly aligned, welds are made along the overlapping joints of fingers 19b and plate 12, as well as fingers 20b and plate 9. Side filler pieces 27 are added and welded in place, the alignment of these members not being critical since they are also in overlapped relation with the stiffener plates 26 as shown. Upon carrying out the foregoing procedure, a completely unitized and aligned turbine-generator with torsionally resistant condenser base is provided in the manner of the aforesaid Van Nest patent, with the exception that all final assembly has been easily accomplished without prefitting of the parts.

While there has been shown what is considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a turbine-generator set having a substantially rectangular supporting base and a condenser having substantial torsion rigidity depending therefrom so as to lend torsional rigidity to said base, the improvement comprising:

first and second longitudinally spaced vertical plate portions extending transversley across said base and forming a part thereof,

third and fourth longitudinally spaced vertical plate members extending transversely beneath said base and attached across opposite ends of said condenser, each of said third and fourth plate members being adapted for sliding contact with said first and second plate portions respectively in an overlapping arrangement,

at least one of said plate members having a pair of transversely spaced extensions overlapping said respective plate portions and defining a cutout to provide flexibility, and

temporary fastening bolts for clamping said overlapping extensions to said plate portions and arranged in enlarged bolt holes to provide for limited sliding aligning movements of the condenser with respect to the base, whereby a permanent welded connection may be made between overlapping members subsequent to alignment.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein each of said third and fourth plate members include a pair of said transversely spaced extensions overlapping said first and second plate portions respectively and also each having said temporary fastening means.

3. The combination according to claim 2 and further including fifth and sixth longitudinally extending stiffener plates aflixed to opposite edges of said fourth plate member and to said condenser, and further including seventh and eighth longitudinal filler plate members welded to said base and welded in overlapping relationship to said fifth and sixth plate members respectively for communicating torsional resistance of the condenser to the base.

4. A condenser-base turbine-generator set adapted for field assembly of the condenser to the base comprising:

a rectangular base structure having longitudinal side members and longitudinally spaced transverse plate members extending between said side members,

a plurality of turbine-generator components mounted on said base and aligned with one another,

a substantially cylindrical condenser member disposed below said base and having an inlet steam connection aligned with and connected to an outlet steam connection of one of said components on the base,

third and fourth transverse vertical flexible plate members affixed to opposite ends of said condenser, each of said plate members having transversely spaced extensions disposed in overlapping relationship with said first and second plates on the base,

a plurality of bolted connections between said overlapped extensions and base plate portions, said overlapped members being provided with substantial clearances around the bolts arranged to permit limited sliding aligning movements,

a pair of longitudinal stiffener plate members aflixed to transversely opposite edges of the fourth plate member and to said condenser, and a pair of longitudinally extending filler plate members extending between said side members and said pair of longitudinal stiffener plate members in overlapping re1a- 5 tionship, whereby all of said overlapped plate mem- 2,531,178 11/1950 Van Nest 60-95 A bers may be permanently welded subsequent to align- 1,819,287 8/ 1931 Goerz 29-493 ment of the condenser with respect to the base.

MARTIN P. SCHWADRON, Primary Examiner References Cited 5 A. M. OSTRAGER, Assistant Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 782,056 2/1905 Richardson 29 470.s 2,126,997 8/1938 Kramer 29-4705 29-4705, 493 

